.kp

.kp is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for North Korea (DPRK). It was created on 24 September 2007.

History

The DPRK applied for the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in 2004. ICANN, however, refused because the DPRK did not meet some of the requirements. Another attempt was later made via the Korea Computer Center (KCC) Europe in 2006. The main body of KCC and the DPRK Ambassador to the United Nations petitioned ICANN again. They were refused again for providing insufficient information. A new application was sent in January 2007, and an ICANN delegation visited the country in May. This time, ICANN finally agreed to assign to the DPRK.

One of the first organizations to adopt a domain was the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in 2009.

Previously, the domain was managed by the Korea Computer Center (KCC) Europe. A large number of websites were also hosted by KCC Europe in Germany. However, in 2011, management was transferred to the Pyongyang-based Star Joint Venture.

Second-level domains

Neither the DPRK government agencies nor the central registry have published the second-level domain registration rules. However, according to the using practices shown by the currently existing and accessible DPRK domains and websites, while regarding the worldwide country code second-level domain distribution rules, the second-level domain rules in the DPRK can be interpreted as below.

aca.kp : Academic research institutes
com.kp : Companies
edu.kp : Higher education institutions
law.kp : Legal firms
org.kp : Organizations
gov.kp : Government departments
rep.kp : Agencies associated with the Workers' Party of Korea
net.kp : Internet service providers and email service providers
sca.kp : Affiliated institutes under the Ministry of Culture

The following are externally accessible domain name examples of the use of second-level domain names:

aca.kp : mirae.aca.kp
com.kp : airkoryo.com.kp, knic.com.kp, friend.com.kp
edu.kp : ryongnamsan.edu.kp, kut.edu.kp, gpsh.edu.kp
law.kp : fia.law.kp
org.kp : cooks.org.kp, koredufund.org.kp, kass.org.kp
gov.kp : mfa.gov.kp, moph.gov.kp, tourismdprk.gov.kp
rep.kp : rodong.rep.kp, vok.rep.kp, gnu.rep.kp
net.kp : [Usually appears as the extension for email addresses published elsewhere on other DPRK websites: e.g. <u>@star-co.net.kp</u>]
sca.kp : korart.sca.kp

List of domains

Active domains

, over 30 domains are active under the top-level domain. These are as follows:

Bold indicates a dedicated article on the website itself.

airkoryo.com.kp
cooks.org.kp
dprknado.org.kp
dprkportal.kp
fia.law.kp
friend.com.kp
gpsh.edu.kp
kass.org.kp
kcna.kp
kftrade.com.kp
kiyctc.com.kp
knic.com.kp
korart.sca.kp
korean-books.com.kp
koreanarchitecture.gov.kp
koredufund.org.kp
korelcfund.org.kp
korfilm.com.kp
korstamp.com.kp
kut.edu.kp
kza.org.kp
ma.gov.kp
manmulsang.com.kp
mediaryugyong.com.kp
mfa.gov.kp
minju.rep.kp
mirae.aca.kp
moph.gov.kp
naenara.com.kp
pyongyangtimes.com.kp
rodong.rep.kp
ryomyong.edu.kp
ryongnamsan.edu.kp
silibank.net.kp (mail server only)
sdprk.org.kp
star-co.net.kp (mail server only)
tourismdprk.gov.kp
vok.rep.kp
youth.rep.kp
yongsaeng.org.kp

Some addresses are used by the North Korean Internet only, and some of them are only accessible in the Kwangmyong network, alongside regularly-used 24-bit block IPv4 private addresses.

Former domains

These domains are not included on the "dprkportal.kp" website as of 2025, but existed in the past.

gnu.rep.kp
ksf.com.kp
masikryong.com.kp
nta.gov.kp
polestar.com.kp
pulbora.edu.kp
samhae.com.kp
star.co.kp

History

Second-level domains

List of domains

Active domains

Former domains

See also

Notes

References

External links